Discussion

The Chinese buffet place that closed a while back (a block from Duangrat's) looks like it has a new sign "Hokkaido Seafood Buffet" and activity behind the papered-up windows.

Rosita's little shack near the Liberty gas station (across from Peking Gourmet) is opening soon as "Al Jazeera Cafe."

The Ethiopian place near Thai Square is apparently closed.

There is a new wine bar: Village Vines -- near Frank's Engraving on Columbia Pike at S. Walter Reed Drive. <HOLD ON, is it called Village Vines? I know for sure that Village Vines is definitely a new restaurant discount service. villagevines.org ). Now I will be heading down there this week, so I'll check the wine bar's name.

There is a new "Salsa Room" that looked flashy in the place of some other Mexican place nearby the new "Village Vines." Can't recall the name. Looked open, inviting and modern (at least what I could see as we drove by). (I think this place is just east of Bangkok 54 -- but don't quote me).

The Thai place near Peking Gourmet Inn which used to be Neisha Thai is now another Thai. How long it has been the new name, I don't know. I think there was a different name after Neisha closed there; maybe this is the second replacement?

~~~~~Other stuff: The Yorktown Bistro (Geo. Mason & Lee Hwy) looks like it is down for the count.

Ruffino's (never went; at Lee and Glebe) is closed, but it seems a new place might be going in there....

No activity apparent on the old Alpine.

District Taco had a decent breakfast clientele on Sunday around 9:30 am.

The Salsa Room is the same Bolivian ownership since it was renamed from Cecilia's. It has long been a place to take salsa (dance) lessons. So far, they have retained the same menu, but have plans to make it primarily a 'mexican' menu, still retaining their Bolivian specialties. It is open for lunch although it looks like a nightclub inside and it doesn't look like it's open.

They have my favorite version of saltena right now, an unusual chicken and beef combination which is the only one they make. Also, their sopa de mani (peanut soup) is the best version around and skillfully prepared. If you haven't been yet, I highly recommend it, though I wouldn't stray too far from those recs unless you want to tackle one of their massive platters of food with about five kinds of starch.

The wine bar is named Twisted Vines: http://www.twisted-vines.com/. The Salsa Room is actually a renamed and reformed Cecilia's, and the last time I checked, they were going to add Mexican cuisine to their menus. Love Columbia Pike!

...and cecilia's -- that space has definitely been transformed -- it is open space-wise (to the street) and looks modern -- may i say trendy? -- inside. steve, it looked open for business to me, as well; word up on the starch, though! ;-).

~~~~*** link, if you care about link wray, go to the american indian museum for the exhibit (with sound) of american indian musical artists. link wray was among the greats -- and many, many more. in fact, EVERYONE GO and be-bop and rock to the great exhibit before it leaves on january 2. be sure and get the free headsets for the audio tour.

Alka -- I had completely missed that connection to Wray! Thanks for the rec. I used to go to TSR almost every week until autumn hit, and yes, it is definitely trendy. Strong drinks, too. Let me know next time you're in the CP area, that's my stomping ground!

There was (is?) a taco truck in DC named District Taco. I think this might be the storefront version. What they serve is pretty taco-truck-like (which, around here, means pretty good). But you don't have to stand in line in the cold to get served.

It is called District Taco because when they were first opening their food truck business many many moons ago they were intending to be in DC. Due to restrictive licensing back then in DC they decided to have their cart in Rosslyn, Courthouse. The cart was still named District Taco and has done business for years under that name.

They are still keeping the food truck and still hope to get into the DC market, but Virginia is their home at time present. I think they didn't want to rename the store at this point because they are counting on a lot of customer's recognizing the name from their cart.

we noticed that the now defunct "brinkley's diner" on rte. 7 (between sears and the laundromat at seven corners) is now an "english pub" and is sporting a makeover (at least outside, and i'm guessing inside, too).

I've noticed the new sign. I seem to recall that it's the same ownership and management as before, they just decided to change gears. It's been probably 20 years since I've eaten there. I had a good bacon cheeseburger as I recall. It would be nice to have a real pub in the neighborhood, but with Dogfish Alehouse so close, this can't be any better (other than that I don't have to cross the street to get there). <g>